Günther Simmermacher on Catholic media, being an editor and 100 years of The Southern Cross

“Above everything else, I’m a Catholic as Günther Simmermacher but I am also a professional journalist. As a journalist, it is not my job to do PR for the bishops or the Vatican. I have to reflect truthfully and fairly what is happening.” Next year, South Africa’s Catholic weekly The Southern Cross celebrates 100 years of publication. Günther Simmermacher has been with the paper for 25 years and almost 20 years as editor. Russell Pollitt SJ talks to Günther about Catholic media in general as well as the specific challenges around editing a Catholic newspaper.